Mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus



H. G. TELLING.

MECHANICAL CODING AND DECODING OR GIDHERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5. 192:.

1,437,325. Patented'Nov. 28, 1922.

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* I F. .2 Farm. 6 T) I o v.v. f n 0 a a 5 f I I I O Q i Q w 02 0 v 0 1 9 r R /6 SYL l 2 SILTAlLE )4 b: 0 3e 81 l H G. TELLING. MECHANICAL CODING AND DECODING 0R CIPHERIN G APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 5, 1921.

1337 325, Patented Nov. 28, 1922,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

latented Nov, 28, 1922,

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca.

HARRY GEO. TELLING, OIE LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ADAPTABLE CODE CONDENSERS LIMITED, OF'LONDON, ENGLAND, A COMPANY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

MECHANICAL CODING AND DECODING OR CIPI-IERING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 5,1921. Serial No. 435,199.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY Gnonen TELL- ING, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, residing at 105 Como Eoad, Forest Hill, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Belating to Mechanical Ceding and Decoding or Ciphering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus andhas for its chief object to provide an apparatus for rapidly and accurately con verting or transforming groups, sets or series of figures representing messages or phrases according to known methods into polysyllabic pronouncea'ble code words, each word produced having at least a two-letter difference from every other word capable of being built up by .or produced by the apparatus, and also for decoding such words by converting them back to the original group or set of figures.

:Hitherto known methods, for converting messages expressed'by groups of figures into pronounceable code words fulfilling the requirements of the rules and regulations of the International Telegraphic Convention, and for checking the accuracy of words so formed and vice versa, have necessitated calculation on the part of both sender and receiver, whereby considerable time is-occopied and the likelihood of inaccuracy and error is present; whereas according to the present invention the whole operation of conversion or transformation 'in either direction is performed rapidly, automatically and accurately, the complete code word being exhibited or exposed to view simultaneously with and beside the corresponding figures thus facilitating checking, and eliminating liability of error.

The apparatus accordingto the present invention comprises a series of movable units in the form of tables, plates, drums orother members, in accordance with the number of syllables in the code word, such members being adapted to be variably locked or coupled for conjoint movement by suitable gearing while another member or other members remains or remain stationary or all the members may be moved together, and

'ticular Word. v i v Each movable unit represents one syllain conjunction with these movable members there is employed" an indicator or guide which, in being set to indicate or determine the base or foundation of the word to be "formed, shuts off or cuts out such of the movable units or sections thereof as will not be required for the formation of the par-y ble of the word and the units are moved as required "by a handle; or the equivalent thereof and there is provided a gearingoperated by a separate handle or thelike or it maybe operated by the, movements of the unit-moving handle to couple the preceding arranged on a definite plan or system. Each symbol is composed of a vowel and a consonant, the vowel in some cases preceding the consonant and in others being preceded by the consonant. The arrangement of symsyllable forming units separately and in bols on all the movable units is the same and the arrangement of figures oniall the units, with the exceptionofthat for the finalsyllable is the same. .The unit for the final syllable is furnished only with symbols, the figures being placed on a stationary member beside the unit. p

In combination or co-operation withthe gearing, there is a catch which is released only when the final syllable is reached thus enabling allthe units to be rotatedtogether so that should a message have been mutilated in transit the user of the machine can Figure'5 is a View of the gearing taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

. Dis the movable indicator, Ei's the coupling mechanism, F is the casing andv the op er-.. ating mechanism. ...The members A B; and-(Lin the present embodiment of the invention are. conveniently in the form otrotary drums orcyl- .inders' arranged 0n'. ,horizontal. shafts a b and" c respectively, these shaftsybei-ng carfried in suitable bearings in the, frame or casing F of the apparatus.

, The movable unlts A. B and;

which is provided ,with alid or .cover F and in this lid are fprmed three windows or openings'f f f large enough to show,

inth'e case of units A and, B a horizontal "row; of. letter. and figure" groups, onegroup .inzeachIcolumn and .in the case of unit C one row of letter group, one; group each column.

The units hand-Btare each. with two series of letter "groups, each representing abiliteral syllable, in one series the syllables begin with a vowel. and in the other with a consonant. Each two 1ettrg group accompanied by a two figure group, all arranged preferably on the following plan.

In the first .five" columns ofbiliteral groups or syllables a: vowel .precedes'-a consonant, the same vowel' bei'ng employed throughout a column and different vowel-to each column. Eachbiliter'al group is accompanied by two figures running successively throughout the "five columns from 00150? 992': In the remaining 1 five columns a consonant precedes. .11.

vowel and a separate vowel'is employed in each column. 1.In.the second-five columns the figures are arranged ,as in the first five columns. 1 These two series. are mounted upon the same units A. 01113, as bothfiseries are r to form the same syllable ofth'e code or other word, and therefore canbe moved together tor need not be moved separately, but each series of live columns may be mounted. upon a separate unit; I l

In the arrangement illustrated, the unit A is employed for the firstsyllable of the eel-ma e the. unit for tl1e.sec:ond ;or intermediate syllable, asthe apparatus as con structed is intended for three syllable words "or words containing six letters, If .four

syllable; wordsla-re required; an additional intermediate syllable unit will be added.

The unit 0 is used in' connectionliwlith the final syllable iof the w rd. The 1 115. O!

gure groups each word-com .G re- 9 .ven1ently arranged within wthe casmg F final syllable unit is preferably provided with letter groups only, and these are arranged l on the plan" above described.

Alongside thefopening. f in the top or. lid

F of thecasing F, through which the rei quired combination of letters on the unit 0. are shown are arrangedfigures running fromO to 9fas shown at C l) one figure being employed for. each column of j syllableson the'unit a v p Each. syllable .of a. word begins with a vowel or a consonant and each syllable contains a vowel and aconsonant thus the posslble combinatlons-for the first two syllables I are (a) both syllablescommencing with .a

vowel (b the firstvsyllable commencing with a; vowel and the/second with a consonant (0)- the .firstsyllable commencing with a consonant and the second .witha vowel-and sonant.

a grou of figu e is to be converted into a code word the first figure in a group is i ((1) .both syllables commencing. with a fconv According to the present invention when used to determine the basic formationoif the word tobe produced and. conveniently on the followm plan, for the above mentioned four com inations for the first two syllables.

Whenthe'group beginswith a cipher or. figure I 0 then thebasic formation 'ofthe word. will be beth-"syllabls v .with a vowel.

.sonants. Y t p While this-system for determining the basic being used.

When the first figure of the group is 1, then the basic formation willbe first. syllable beginning with a vowel and the second with a consonant. When the first figure is 2 then the basic formation willbe first syllable commencing with a consonant and, the second with avowel. VVhenthe first figure is 3 then the basic formation of the word will be both syllables commencing with conformation of a codeword can readily be memorized, means are provided in accordance with this invention to minimize the liability to error which would arise if the user of the apparatus had to rely on memory, and by the means provided, it is ensured that only the portions of theunits required for forming the first and second syllables of the words are visible when the apparatus is A- convenient embodiment" of the means employed for this purpose comprises a slide D arranged to be moved between the units A and B and the opening 7 f in the cover F through which portions of these units are visible. The slide D has openings (Z, (Z (lid aZ (Z (see Fig. 4:) and is preferably provided with a visible indicator comprising the numerals O, 1, 2, 3 accompanied by letter combinations V.V.V.C. O.V. and G. C. The figure 0 indicates the first basic formation in which both syllables commence with a vowel and therefore is accompanied by the letters VV indicating vowel. These figures and letter combinations are visible in turn through openings 7, 7 in the lid F. WVhen the figureO is visible in the opening f and the letters V V are visible in the opening 7 the slide D is in such a position that the second series of groups on the unit A is invisible and only the first group can be seen through the opening (Z which coincides now with the opening 7 in the lid F. In this position of the slide D also, the second series of groups on the unit B are invisible while the first series thereon are visible since the opening (Z in the slide coincides with the opening f in the lid.

Similarly if the first figure of the group is 1, the slide D is moved until the figure 1 appears in the opening when the letters V. C. will be visible in the opening f In this position of the slide the first series of groups on the unit A will still be visible through the opening 0Z since'the first syllable is com,-

menced with a vowel, but the first series of groups on the unit B will now be cut out and the second or consonant vowel series will be visible through the opening d which now coincides with the opening 7. When the group begins with the Figure 2 indicating the C.V. combination, the first syllable of the word beginning with a consonant and the second with a vowel, then the second series of groups 011 unit; A will be visible through the openingd and the first series of groups on the unit B will be visible through the opening cl .v l/Vhen the group begins with the Figure 3, indicating both syllables to begear wheel D gears with the rack and acts as a spring detent and tends to preventthe ing set. i v

In accordance with the present "invention, as above stated, each of the unit'sA and B are successively coupled with or moved separately in conjunction with the final unit C which latter therefore ismoved an extent equal to the combined movement of the units AB. I

.A'convenient gearing for ensuring this proper movement, comprises a handle or knob Gr mounted upon a vertical shaft 9 which carries a bevel gear wheel G arranged to gearwith a bevel wheel G on the slide Dfrom moving accidentally after be;

shaft 0 of the unit C. Mounted on the shaft 0 is a gear wheel G which gears permanently with a wheel Gr carried on a shaft 9. In the initial position of the gear the wheel Gr rotates a wheel G on the shaft or, of the unit A through an idler wheel G on a shaft 9 so that when the knob G is rotated the units A and C rotate together.

The shaft. g is adapted to be moved longitudinally being mounted to slide in suit able bearings in the ends of the casing. On

this shaft is also mounted a gear Wheel G which in the initial position (seeFig. 2)

is idle, but when the shaft is moved longi tudinally to the right this wheel Gr is brought into mesh with a wheel G on the shaft 0, and with an idle wheel G on the shaft G flthis idle wheel gearing with a'wheelG on the shaft 6 of the unit B. In this second position the wheel G is -moved out of gear with the wheel G so that when the knob G is rotated, the units'B and C being connected by the wheel G these two units will rotate together.

When it is required in checking purposes or'for detecting mutilations, and correcting, to rotate all units together, the shaft 9 is moved longitudinally still further to the right, in which positiona wheel G on the shaft 9 moves into mesh with the wheel G on shaft 0; and the wheel G on shaft 0. In this position the wheel G .is still in mesh with. the wheel G Mounted abev'eth time; is shaft which is arranged to movelongitudinally-in company with-the shaft g. uIn the first and I second 1 positions ofthe 'Zgear' -the shaft "gi -is prevented froln rotatingfby a catch H which is imounted uponone' end of the shaftand the [shaft isfree'to'rotatem M fiiOnfthis shaft is afgear 'wheeli in the first'rp osition-ofthe gear meshes with; the wheel G on the: shaft 'ofgthe" unlt'l'B Y '15 and ,as the shaft g c'annot rotate 'the unit B is locked againstmovement; As the gear is :moved into the a second position, the 1 gear Wheel G is moved out 01": mesh with the gear is moved into mesh withth'e wheellG of unit ;A- thus locking. the unit A against Trotation whilea'jtheunitiB is. coupled with the unit (1;; l/Vhen the, gear is in thexthird poi-l sition, the wheeljGr is still in mesh with the. wheel G andianotherwheel G on the shaft 9 is Vin gear withthe 'wheelG i of unit 15, but in this position, as alreadyfstatech' the shaft ge-is free to rotate so that theunit's A51 and 6' are-freeto be rotated in com pany by the gearing already" described. i A convenienbmech-a'nism for movingthe shafts g, 319 longitudinally comprises a WOIIIl or scre-v'v; H' 'whichs passes through a; threaded'opening in ablock 1-1 which" is ecured tothe left hand ends. of the shafts g -This worm is conveniently rotated by a disc wheel E pr'ovidedwith-a spring catch H4 arranged to" engage notches Ii? on the wheel s The Openings f f; f through which the readings are; taken are preferably provide-:1

with sliding shutters A 913 C respectively, having openings sufficiently. large toen-' close the required groupthu's "providing a ready {means for easily reading the entire groups; i

1. In operation, for example the group'lof vfigures is 0 0Q, 18, 3, to transform this into i a word, the initial figure 0 reading from left to right ;is v taken, this figure; determines the basic formationof the word, the; slide ,D is

moved-until Othereon showsin the opening f and'the letters V V in the wopening f? denoting that the first Q and second lsyllables are-to commence with Vowels'. The slide D in this position closes portions of the openings fand f sothat onlytheunits A and B showing vowelconsonant groups are visible.

The next two figures 0Q are then taken and the gearing rotated mowiingthe-units A and C until 00 the figures on unit, appears in the, openings 7. Beside the fi'gures 09 on unit A will'be tou-nd'the'letters AB, giving the v first syllable of the word, the coupling gear is now moved to'c'onnect units B and G',then' .the nextfltwof'figures 13 are taken and-the units B andrC rotated until thefigures 13 This fig'urelinthe presentexample is '3 'de p word A'BASIN" having-f a1 vowel": consonant formation r for the "first tvi/o" syllables" aside snotedby the; initialfigureiO. I" I whe a word is tobe T decodedor, trans. 7 formed into a groupicf-figu-res,the/wordis; .-G?nand another wheel G -onth'e' shaft-1g first examined ;as to its basic formation as first'iand second "syllables begin with vowels,

noting the third column, on unit, and ,witliri outiurther operationyof' the gearin'g the group of letters "on unit Q oppositeithefigure -3 of the indicator C 'isI N; 5 Thusifrom :the group. of figures 0.001133 we" have the the basic. formation is therefore V'-V.

"Thismis the' 1st combinationfsee guide D,

Figure 4) andth'erefore.th o will be .iziThe firstv and second unitsA and B are then" rotated until the letters A; 6 "ap- I pear on unit A andassocia'ted withthe letters A the figures O1= will'appearinthe openingffpl The units BIC are-nextrotatedfl until the letters IN appear on unit Biv With these letters I N are to befound the figures 18; NVithout further. operation the final syllable'O C should be shown by the unit C and should appear-in column 4:,giving the final figure Luanda thefl'complete group is As abovesta'ted it an'essential "feature of this invention: that it a secures accuracy and eliminates error'in that it provides a readymeans for detecting and correcting mutilations'in a message. For instance in the above quoted examplethe final syllable of the word should appearfonunit C s1mul-' taneously with the-j setting of the unit. 1B; for

the secondsyllable if therefore, when unit 13 discloses the letters I N-together'with the corresponding figure group lthe final sy1,-.

lable O Cfdoes; not show on unitsC with;

out further operation of the cylinder sythen the userknows that there is some mutila- Theunit C thus acts tion in. themessage.

as a'check unit andensures'accu'racyj since by turning this unit ,infthecase of-a-niutila tion, and'rotating the, otherfunits with it by moving the; gear to/the thlrd position, the

possible variiations'in theword can be -as'cerr tainedkwhether they Occllr-ingthe fir stgin- 1 tel-mediate or final syllable,andthecodeto I which" the .word requiredvbelongs being w known,t11e proper word can quickly b a certained; p i I -As above stated each wordcapahle of ing produced has atleast-a two letter differ- Y ence from any other word capable of'being built up by L he apparatus: a word containing the syllable E T differs actually by two letters from a word containing in the same syllable the letters T E, yet the system employed with this invention cuts out two letter differences which are really transposi tions. By referring to the table above it will be seen that in any line of groups on a unit the arrangement of vowel consonant and consonant vowel syllables, a particular figure group say 33 in the vowel consonant combination is accompanied by the letters E T, whereas on the same line in the consonant vowel groups, the syllable figures 33 are accompanied by the letters V E not T E, thus it is ensured that a two letter difference in all words will be obtained without using transpositions.

The apparatus also provides a ready means for secret coding. The units while all being arranged on the same basic formation of lettergroups, may have their zero positions varied separatelyso that to decipher a messagecorrectly, the particular arrangement oi units must be known previously to sender and receiver. Also by providing various zero positions for the catch H, the message can only be decoded correctly by one knowing the correct initial positions of the units.

The invention has been described as embodied in an apparatus for dealing with words of six letters or three syllables chiefly because this is suflicient for most if not all commercial purposes, but the invention is not to be restricted to such an arrangement as an additional intermediate syllable unit can be added but in all cases the final unit will be moved a distance equal to the added amount of all the other units so as to preserve its function of checking and correcting mutilations.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus, the combination of a seriesof movable units representing respectively initial, intermediate and final word syllables or figure groups and adjustable gearing for coupling the initial and intermediate units separately with the final unit.

2. In a mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus the combination of a series of movable units representing initial, intermediate and final groups and adjustable gearing for coupling the initial and intermediate units in succession with the final unit.

3. In a mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus the combination with a series of separately movable units representranged on a'plan to ensure a two letter difference between any two words and a final unit having similar letter groups with a figure group, of mechanism for coupling the initial and intermediate units separately with the final unit and mechanism for mov ing the units for the time being coupled to gether.

5. In a mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus the combination with initial and interemdiate units furnished with figure groups and biliteral letter groups arranged on a plan to ensure a twoletter difference between all words and a final unit have similar letter groups, of a column indicator for the final unit, mechanism for coupling this initial and intermediate unit separately with the final unit and mechanism for simultaneously moving the units coupled together. I i

6.. In a mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus the combination with a series of movable units having. biliteral groups arranged in columns'giving separate series of vowel consonant and consonant vowel combinations of a combined'indicator and guide for the formation of the desired combination.

7. In a mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus the combination with movable units bearing series of biliteral groups representing initial intermediate and final syllables or groups and gearing for coupling the initial and. intermediate units separately with. the final unit of mechanism for locking the units out oi. use and mechae nisln for releasing the locking mechanism and for coupling all the units, together.

8. In a mechanical coding and decoding or ciphering apparatus, in combination, a series of separate movable units, representing initial, intermediate and final units, means for coupling the initial and intermediate units with the final units, a locking mechanism for preventing improper movements of the units, means for operating the units coupled together, a combination guide and indicator, a zero indicator and means for adjusting the zero indicator.

HARRY GEO. TELLING.

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